Commissioners in favor of multi-use path

PIQUA — During a brief work session held on Thursday evening, the Piqua City Commission considered two resolutions that were recently tabled concerning a multi-use path extending from Scott Drive to Looney Road. The resolutions were tabled at the commission’s past two meetings.

The multi-use path, also referred to as the East Ash Street Bikeway project, will connect Scott Drive to Looney Road on the north side of U.S. Route 36.

City Engineer Amy Havenar explained at previous commission meetings that the project would connect with a bridge improvement project being completed by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) on the Ash Street bridge that goes over the Great Miami River.

If approved at the next Piqua City Commission meeting, the multi-use path will be separated from the roadway and use the same alignment as the existing sidewalk if the project is approved. It will also widen the area and add a vehicular barrier on the U.S. Route 36 bridge over I-75.

The preliminary legislation with the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the programming of East Ash Street Bikeway project was the other resolution tabled in connection with this project.

“This trail will tie into trail sections and will be done by ODOT, which will start on the east side of the bridge on U.S. State Route 36 over the river, and it would connect with the trail that we’re proposing to design,” City Manager Gary Huff said on Thursday night. “ODOT would be doing all of the designing and construction for it for the section across the bridge.”

The engineering portion of the project must be funded with 100 percent local funds. Huff explained that the project has already gone to bids, and the agreement will be with Korda/Nemeth Engineering. The contract for the agreement for the design services is not to exceed $105,000.

Huff also explained that the commission has asked about connecting this project to the existing section of the bike trail that is down next to the river.

“We have asked ODOT to look at that and consider that as part of their design … for that section,” Huff said. “They plan to do that project, the bridge, and the section we’re talking about all at the same time so they tie in.”

“Everybody thinks that John (Martin) and myself and Joe (Wilson) are against this trail, and no, we are not,” Commissioner Bill Vogt said. “We want it. We want it to have it nice. Concrete rather than the asphalt like rest of our trails because it’s exposed and it’s less maintance.”

A number of concerned residents attended the meeting as well, the majority of them proponents of the project who wanted to make sure that the path is done well and provides safety to pedestrians.

The two tabled resolutions will be back on the agenda for the upcoming commission meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20.